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Biomedical subjects

I Fujimoto

Publications and source records attributed to I Fujimoto.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

[Multimodal treatment for advanced, ovarian cancer patients with poor performance status--its effectiveness and limitations].

We assessed the feasibility of the sequential multimodal treatment including neoadjuvant chemotherapy for far advanced ovarian cancer patients not amenable to a standard modality because of poor medical status. Seven consecutive advanced ovarian cancer patients presented with massive ascites (5 with pleural effusion). Based on the priming theory, immunotherapy with OK432 (s.c. priming with 0.2 KE of OK432 followed by a local injection with 10KE of OK432) was successfully applied to a carcinomatous effusion. Thereafter, patients were treated with 4-6 courses (13-20 wks) of "low-dose consecutive CP (CPM 500 mg/m2, day 1; CDDP 10 mg/m2, day 1-7), which delivered 1CR, 5PR and 1NC (tumor regression rate: 30-100%). Subsequently, the patients underwent radical surgery including small/large bowel resection, splenectomy and diaphragma resection in addition to hysterectomy, bilateral adenectomy and omentectomy, with tumor resectability being 100% in 4 cases and 90% < (residual 2 cm) in 3. Postoperatively, patients received intraperitoneal (IP) chemo-immunotherapy and were followed up with IP washing cytology through an implanted reservoir. Mean survival time was 17.1 months (10-32) with the follow up interval being 10-32 months. Four patients with complete tumor resection are alive with no evidence of disease for 14-32 months. Among 3 incomplete patients, 2 with persistent/recurrent disease received further IP chemotherapy and the remaining one died of the disease at 15 months from the start of therapy. Thus, the present multimodality indicates the possibility of a "cure" for far advanced ovarian cancer patients with poor performance status.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1992

Detection of brain-specific gene expression in brain cells in primary culture: a novel promoter assay based on the use of a retrovirus vector.

Promoter activities of the brain-specific genes for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and myelin basic protein (MBP) were investigated in brain cells in primary culture with the use of a novel retrovirus vector, pIP200. With this vector, promoter activity can be expressed in terms of beta-galactosidase activity. Differentiation of the primary brain cells to mature glial cells was not affected by treatment with the pIP200 virus vector. The 256-bp 5'-flanking region of the GFAP gene directed astrocyte-specific expression of lacZ. It was silent in fibroblasts, even in multiple copies. The 1.3-kb 5'-flanking region of the MBP gene exhibited strict tissue (oligodendrocyte) specificity under the present assay method but showed some leakiness when integrated into the chromosome in multiple copies. Promoter regions conferring cell type specificity in brain were effectively identified by the present method.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Cytomorphologic, cytometric and histomorphologic observations after laser therapy for cervical lesions.

To analyze the healing process after laser therapy for cervical lesions, the clinical, cytologic, histologic and colposcopic features in 109 cases were studied chronologically. The healing process of the cervical epithelium usually began from both the squamous and columnar epithelial borders, starting around the 10th day after laser therapy; the process covered the whole tissue defect with multilayered epithelium within seven weeks. Inflammatory changes also usually abated within that time. Cytomorphologically, laser therapy resulted in the occurrence of (mostly degenerated) "fiber-type" and orangeophilic cells in smears taken during the first two weeks after treatment. Tissue repair cells were seen in smears collected from the first posttherapy day through the fourth week after laser therapy. Using computer-assisted image cytometry, the reparative cells in samples taken shortly after treatment (roughly, the first to fifth days) exhibited more hyperchromatic (3-4N) nuclei than did those in later samples; however, the mean DNA content of the early reparative cells was generally concentrated around that of the 2N reference cells. These findings suggest that follow-up, including cytologic and colposcopic examination, for the early detection of residual or recurrent lesions should start in the eighth week and continue periodically for at least one year.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1992

[Trends of cancer occurrence and survival in Japan, and in Osaka].

Recent improvements in cancer medical care in Osaka have resulted in the elevation of survival rates of cancer patients, except for the so-called "refractory" cancers. Five-year relative survival rates for reported patients diagnosed in 1981-1983 were higher than 60% for cancers of the breast, uterus and bladder, and around 40% for rectum, colon and stomach cancers. However, cancers of the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and lung continued to show very low survival rates of less than 10%. In higher age-groups, advanced cases occupied a larger proportion while cases which received curative resection occupied a smaller proportion. Reflecting this, survival rates were lower in age-groups higher than 75, and the reduction of age-differences between younger and older groups was not observed during the decade. Cancer incidence for all sites in Japan was estimated by the Research Group for Population-based Cancer Registries to be 320,000 in 1985. The stomach, colorectal, lung, liver, and breast were the five leading cancer sites. According to the authors' studies, cancer incidence is projected to be 740,000 in Japan in 2015, of which 40% would be patients of "refractory" cancers and 62% would be aged patients in their upper than 70, though these were 19% and 32% in 1985. In order to combat this difficult situation in the near future, the following activities are urgently required: (1) Promotion of primary preventive measures for incurable cancers. (2) Development of specific therapy programs taking into account of QOL for aged patients as well as advanced patients. (3) Promotion of secondary preventive measures for aged people as well as younger people.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1991

Mast cell degranulating (MCD) peptide and its optical isomer activate GTP binding protein in rat mast cells.

The MCD peptide in bee venom induces degranulation in mast cells. The internal calcium concentration of mast cells increased and remained high following MCD stimulation. This calcium increase was blocked by pertussis toxin (Ptx) treatment, suggesting that MCD peptide activates Ptx-sensitive G-protein. Even in the absence of external calcium in the incubation medium, the calcium concentration increased by MCD treatment, but soon returned to the original level. D-MCD, the optical isomer of the MCD peptide, also increased the internal calcium concentration through a Ptx-sensitive pathway. We suggest that cationic clusters at one side of the surface are more important in activating the G-protein than the alpha-helix conformation.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Direct activation of GTP-binding proteins by venom peptides that contain cationic clusters within their alpha-helical structures.

Direct interactions of venom peptides that contained a cysteine-stabilized alpha-helical motif within their internal molecules with alpha beta gamma-trimeric GTP-binding proteins (G proteins) were studied in reconstituted phospholipid vesicles. Mast cell-degranulating (MCD) peptide stimulated the steady-state rate of GTP hydrolysis catalyzed by the reconstituted G proteins. Synthetic D-MCD peptide, the optical isomer of MCD peptide, was also effective in the activation of G proteins as L-MCD peptide. The stimulations by L- and D-peptides were both abolished in G proteins that had been ADP-ribosylated by pertussis toxin. Charybdotoxin also stimulated, though slightly, the GTPase activity of G proteins. Such a stimulation was, however, not observed upon the incubation of G proteins with other venom peptides such as apamin, sarafotoxin and endothelin. Thus, in comparison of the amino acid sequences of their venom peptides, the extent of the activation of G proteins appeared to be correlated with the number of basic amino acid residues around the alpha-helix. These results suggest that cationic clusters at one side of the alpha-helical surface are more important in the direct activation of G proteins than a specific, alpha-helical structure.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Prognostic factors for surgically treated lung adenocarcinoma patients, with special reference to smoking habit.

Prognostic factors for lung adenocarcinoma patients who had been treated surgically at the Center for Adult Diseases, Osaka, in 1978-87 (N = 267) were analyzed in terms of year of operation, sex, age at operation, postsurgical stage, grade of differentiation, and smoking habit. Survival was improved for later year of operation (1983-87), younger age at operation, stage I or II, well or moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, and nonsmoking status in univariate analysis. A proportional hazards model including the above variables showed that stage III and stage IV patients had 4.06 and 8.81 times higher risk of death compared to stage I and II patients. Poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma showed 2.01 times higher risk of death than well or moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. Earlier year of operation and female status showed 1.70 and 1.82 times higher risk of death, respectively, as compared to each reference group. All these hazard ratios showed statistical significance. Current smokers who smoked 1,000 or more on the cigarette index showed 2.38 times higher risk of death than nonsmokers with statistical significance. This indicates that smoking is another independent prognostic factor for patients who undergo operations for adenocarcinoma of the lung.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1991

Second primary cancers following colon and rectal cancer in Osaka, Japan.

The frequencies of second primary cancers following colon and rectal cancers were estimated using the Osaka Cancer Registry's population-based data for Osaka, Japan. A series of 7,312 colon and 6,923 rectal cancer cases newly diagnosed in the period of 1966-1986 were followed up until the end of 1986. The average follow-up period was 3.6 years for colon cancer and 3.7 years for rectal cancer. Significantly elevated risks of second primary cancers following colon cancer were observed for cancers of the rectum (O/E = 2.0; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.1-3.4 among males, O/E = 4.3; 95% CI = 2.4-7.2 among females), corpus uteri (O/E = 8.2; 95% CI = 3.3-16.9), ovary (O/E = 4.3; 95% CI = 1.0-5.0), and female thyroid gland (O/E = 4.7; 95% CI = 1.7-8.8). These findings were more notable among right-sided colon cancer patients than left-sided colon cancer patients. The elevated risks of second primary cancers were particularly evident among patients younger than 50 years of age at the time of diagnosis of the initial cancer (colon cancer: O/E = 3.1 among males, 3.4 among females, rectal cancer: O/E = 1.7 among males, 1.3 among females). These findings suggest that younger colorectal cancer patients should undergo more careful checkups throughout their lives.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1991

Lung cancer risk among exsmokers.

Lung cancer risk among exsmokers according to years since cessation of smoking was assessed by means of a case-control study. The case series consisted of 1,052 lung cancer patients who were newly diagnosed and admitted to eight hospitals in Osaka in 1986-88. Smoking histories were compared with those of 1,111 controls admitted to the same hospitals during the same period without any diagnosis of smoking-related disease. The odds ratio of lung cancer for exsmokers compared to current smokers was estimated to be 0.90, 0.50, 0.51, 0.59, 0.48 and 0.29, for 1-4, 5-9, 10-14, 15-19, 20-24 and greater than or equal to 25 years after cessation of smoking, respectively. Risk reduction appeared to be greater for those who smoked less than the 1200 cigarette index, compared to those who smoked more. In classification according to histologic type, small cell and large cell carcinoma showed a rapid decrease compared to adenocarcinoma, while squamous cell carcinoma showed an intermediate pattern. Quantitative estimates for reduction of lung cancer risk among exsmokers can be used for projecting lung cancer incidence in the future, by assuming future trends of smoking prevalence, as well as for health education among individual smokers.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Second primary cancer after diagnosis of stomach cancer in Osaka, Japan.

The risk of developing a second primary cancer following stomach cancer was estimated from data accumulated in the Osaka Cancer Registry. Of the 38,777 male patients and 22,391 female patients newly diagnosed in the period 1966-1986 who were followed up until the end of 1986, 778 and 267 developed a second cancer other than stomach cancer, respectively, whereas the expected numbers had been 928.8 (RR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.78-0.90) and 297.7 (RR = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.79-1.01). The risks were higher among younger patients (aged 30-54 at the diagnosis of stomach cancer) than among older patients (aged 55-69 at the diagnosis of stomach cancer). Significantly elevated risks were observed for cancers of the oral cavity & pharynx (RR = 1.56), colon (RR = 1.61) and rectum (RR = 1.56) for males, and oral cavity & pharynx (RR = 2.59) for females as second cancers. Results were substantially similar among the localized stomach cancer patients. Among younger male patients with gastrectomy, the risk of developing pancreatic cancer was elevated 10 or more years after stomach cancer diagnosis. The present study suggests the necessity of following up stomach cancer patients in order to enable the early diagnosis of digestive tract cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Giant hydroureteronephrosis associated with primary obstructed megaureter.

The case is presented of a four year old boy with a large left abdominal mass. The patient was diagnosed as having a left giant hydroureteronephrosis due to a primary obstructed megaureter, based on the findings of ultrasonography, micturating cystourethrography, excretion urography, computed tomography and percutaneous antegrade pyeloureterography. Diuretic renography showed that the obstruction was partial. Since a static renal scintigram indicated that renal function on the affected side was moderately well preserved, ureteroplasty is planned.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1991

Congenital hydrocolpos combined with unilateral renal agenesis.

Herein we report an infantile case of congenital hydrocolpos combined with left renal agenesis which presented with an abnormal mass protruding from the vaginal introitus. The diagnosis was made shortly after birth by ultrasonography and confirmed by other radiologic diagnostic methods. This case highlights the value of ultrasonography in diagnosing hydrocolpos and determining the coexistence of renal anomalies.

Female↗
PubMed1991

[Treatment of advanced or recurrent cervical cancer by a new BOMP regimen consisting of bleomycin, vincristine, mitomycin-C, and low-dose consecutive cisplatin].

Twenty-five patients with cervical cancer (4 post-operative cases with FIGO stage Ib or IIb, 2 with stage IV, and 19 recurrence) were treated with a new BOMP consisting of bleomycin (5 mg/body, drip, i.v., days 1-7), vincristine (0.7 mg/m2, bolus, i.v., day 7), mitomycin-5 (7 mg/m2, bolus, i.v., day 7) and cisplatin (10 mg/m2, drip, i.v., days 1-7). The mean age of the patients was 54 years (range 30-77). Prior therapy included radiotherapy (13 cases), radical hysterectomy (11), and none (1). Fifteen (79%) of the 19 evaluable patients responded, including 6 with a complete response (CR) lasting over 15 months. Almost all the disease located in lung, liver, bone, and vulva showed a response. In particular, lesions confined to the lung had a 100% CR when the size of each tumor was under 2 cm in diameter even in the case of multiple metastasis. In contrast, 9 patients with pelvic disease had a 56% response with only 1 CR who had no previous radiotherapy. Such a poor response in the pelvic disease was considered to be due to vascularity reduced by prior radiotherapy. The important factors affecting the response to a new BOMP were found to be lesion size, prior radiotherapy, and the site of lesion. Patient age, performance status (PS), and the interval from a previous treatment to BOMP were not of significance with regard to response. The dose limiting factor was hematologic toxicities. Other toxicities including nausea, renal dysfunction, pulmonary fibrosis, and loss of hair were acceptable. Thus, the decrease in the PS of patients due to BOMP was minimal. It is suggested that this regimen will be useful as a neoadjuvant chemotherapy for advanced cervical cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Augmentative effect of sizofiran on the immune functions of regional lymph nodes in patients with cervical cancer].

Twenty mg of sizofiran (Schizophyllum glucan: SPG) was i.m. administered one day prior to surgery, or the same dose was injected 8 days and one day before surgery to 40 patients with cervical cancer and 15 with a benign tumor. Frozen sections of fresh pelvic lymph nodes from these patients obtained during surgery were stained by the ABC (Avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex) method with several monoclonal antibodies to define the surface phenotype of mononuclear cells. SPG led to a great increase in the number of cells stained with interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) and Leu 3a antibodies, mainly in PC, but with only a slight increase in the number of cells stained with Leu 2a, 7, 11, and M3 antibodies. This augmenting effect was more prominent in patients receiving two SPG injects that in those with a benign tumor. These results suggest that stimulus with some antigen (cancer antigen in the present study) may be required to induce immuno-augmentation by SPG which has no antigenicity. Interestingly, the above augmenting effects could be seen even in metastatic lymph nodes from advanced cervical cancer patients. SPG was thus revealed to be a potent biological response modifier leading to augmented helper T (Th) cell functions of pelvic lymph nodes in cervical cancer patients, among which an enhanced IL-2/IL-2R system was noted.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1991

[A retrospective cohort study of workers in small asbestos industries in south Osaka].

A retrospective cohort study was carried out on asbestos workers who had received health examinations in 1972 to 1974 conducted by the Osaka Health Center. The subjects, total of 789 (329 males, 460 females) were followed-up for 10 years (Jan. 1, 1975-Dec. 31, 1984). There were sixty-one deaths in the cohort--4 tuberculosis, 12 malignant neoplasms (4 stomach cancers, 8 respiratory cancers including one case of pleural mesothelioma), 18 circulatory diseases, 24 respiratory diseases, and 3 other causes of death. Standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was calculated age and sex-specific death rates for the general population in Osaka between 1975-79 and 1980-84. SMR for all causes of death, stomach cancer, respiratory cancer, circulatory diseases, and respiratory diseases were 1.15, 3.29, 0.75, 3.88, 0.93 and 8.63 respectively. Respiratory cancer and respiratory diseases showed statistically significant (p less than 0.01) excess death with a mean death age of 59 and 56 years old respectively.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Clinicopathological analysis of endometrial carcinoma in young women].

Endometrial carcinoma in 40 women under 40 years of age (group A), was analyzed clinicopathologically in comparison with that in 126 women over 50 years of age (group B). 1. The incidence of endometrial carcinoma in women under 40 years of age tends to increase. 2. Sixteen (41.0%) of 39 patients in group A had adenoacanthoma, while 28 (23.7%) of 118 patients in group B had it. The tumor in group A was characterized by less myometrial invasion, lower metastatic potential and coexisting endometrial hyperplasia than that in group B. 3. In group A, patients having ovaries with corpus luteum were characterized by less coexisting endometrial hyperplasia and more myometrial invasion than patients having ovaries without corpus luteum.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1990

Effectiveness of periodic checkup by ultrasonography for the early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Periodic checkup by ultrasonography was conducted on patients with chronic liver diseases for early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma. In 19 months, a total of 2004 examinations were performed on a total of 660 cases (179 cases with liver cirrhosis in the compensatory stage, younger than 70 years; 481 cases with chronic hepatitis, aged 40 to 70 years for men and 50 to 70 years for women). Of the 660 cases, 22 HCC cases (3.3%) were detected and finally diagnosed by angiography and/or histologic examination. Four of those cases (18%) had a single nodule smaller than 1 cm in diameter, and 11 cases (50%) had a single nodule smaller than 2 cm. Surgical resection was performed on 12 cases (55%). In comparison with the control group (83 HCC cases not receiving any periodic checkup), the frequency of small liver cancer and the surgical resection rate in the study group were significantly higher. This examination system by periodic ultrasonography checkup of patients with chronic hepatic diseases was effective for early detection and permitted aggressive therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Adult↗